Air conditioner

ABSTRACT

An air conditioner which reduces an amount of an eddy generated in an outlet or prevents generation of the eddy, to increase a flow rate of discharged air and reduce the generation of noise. The air conditioner includes an indoor air inlet and an indoor air outlet formed in a main body, an air blast fan to inhale indoor air through the indoor air inlet and to discharge the indoor air through the indoor air outlet, and at least one partition to reduce an amount of an eddy generated in the indoor air outlet or to prevent generation of the eddy. The at least one partition is installed on a separation plate that separates from each other a suction channel to inhale the indoor air and a discharge channel to discharge the indoor air.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Korean Patent Application No. 2005-92651, filed Oct. 1, 2005, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present general inventive concept relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly, to a device to prevent an eddy generated at an outlet of a window-installed air conditioner.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, air conditioners are apparatuses for cooling or heating an indoor space using evaporation heat or liquefaction heat generated when a refrigerant is evaporated or liquefied in a refrigerating cycle, which consists of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator interconnected by refrigerant pipes to form a closed circuit.

The air conditioners are divided into standing air conditioners, which stand erect on a floor, wall-hanging air conditioners, which hang on an indoor wall, and window-installed air conditioners, which are installed at a window such that a main body thereof is partially exposed to an indoor space and partially exposed to an outdoor space.

In a window-installed air conditioner, an indoor air inlet for inhaling indoor air therethrough and an indoor air outlet for discharging the indoor air therethrough are formed at an indoor chamber of the main body, and an outdoor air inlet for inhaling outdoor air therethrough and an outdoor air outlet for discharging the outdoor air therethrough are formed at an outdoor chamber of the main body. An evaporator for exchanging heat with the indoor air and an indoor blowing device for circulating the indoor air are installed in the indoor chamber, and a condenser for exchanging heat with the outdoor air and an outdoor blowing device for circulating the outdoor air are installed in the outdoor chamber.

The indoor blowing device comprises a centrifugal air blast fan for centripetally inhaling indoor air and centrifugally blowing the indoor air, a motor for driving the air blast fan, and a duct surrounding the air blast fan.

The pressure of the indoor air discharged from the air blast fan is a sum of a dynamic pressure proportional to an air speed and static pressure not depending on the air speed. As the indoor air discharged from the air blast fan passes through the duct, which provides a gradually increased volume to the indoor air passing therethrough, the dynamic pressure of the indoor air is converted into the static pressure as the air speed decreases.

Since the window-installed air conditioner is installed in a narrow space, such as a window, the window-installed air conditioner is limited as to its size, thus requiring various compact components. Thereby, it is difficult to have a sufficient length of the duct surrounding the centrifugal air blast fan for completely converting the dynamic pressure of the indoor air discharged by the air blast fan into the static pressure. Accordingly, the indoor air discharged from the air blast fan has a high speed component.

Since the indoor air having the high speed component generated by the centrifugal air blast fan moves rapidly towards the outlet, the indoor air has a high pressure in a diagonal direction due to the sum of force applied in a radial direction of the centrifugal air blast fan and force applied towards the front portion of the air conditioner.

Due to characteristics of the centrifugal air blast fan, which centripetally inhales air and centrifugally blows the air, the indoor air is not discharged from an area corresponding to the front portion of the air blast fan. Thereby, the pressure of the indoor air at the front portion of the air blast fan is relatively low.

Accordingly, a part of the discharged air having a high pressure is directed to a place where the pressure of the air is low, such as the front portion of the air blast fan, thereby generating a large three-dimensional eddy in the indoor air outlet. The flow rate of the indoor air discharged from the indoor air outlet is reduced by the large three-dimensional eddy.

Further, the large three-dimensional eddy retains a large amount of eddy energy, thereby generating noise at the indoor air outlet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, one aspect of the general inventive concept is to provide an air conditioner, which reduces an amount of a three-dimensional eddy or prevents generation of the three-dimensional eddy, thereby increasing a flow rate of air discharged from an outlet.

The present general inventive concept also provides an air conditioner, which reduces noise generated in an outlet due to an eddy.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general inventive concept are achieved by providing an air conditioner comprising an indoor air inlet and an indoor air outlet formed in a main body, an air blast fan to inhale indoor air through the indoor air inlet and to discharge the indoor air through the indoor air outlet, and at least one partition to reduce an amount of an eddy generated in the indoor air outlet or to prevent generation of the eddy.

The at least one partition may be installed on a separation plate that separates from each other a suction channel to inhale the indoor air and a discharge channel to discharge the indoor air.

A height of the at least one partition may be ¼ to ⅓ of a height of the indoor air outlet.

The at least one partition may be located in an area of the air blast fan.

The air conditioner may further comprise a plurality of the partitions disposed in a longitudinal direction of the separation plate.

The air conditioner may further comprise a plurality of partitions disposed parallel with a direction of the air discharged from the air blast fan.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general inventive concept are also achieved by providing an air conditioner comprising an inlet and an outlet formed in a main body, an air blast fan to inhale air from the inlet and to discharge the air through the outlet, a separation plate to separate from each other a suction channel to inhale the air and a discharge channel to discharge the air, and an eddy preventing device installed on the separation plate to prevent generation of an eddy in the outlet.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general inventive concept are also achieved by providing an air conditioner comprising a fan to generate a main air flow entering the air conditioner through a first channel and being discharged through a second channel therein, and at least one partition disposed at an exit of the second channel to prevent an eddy from entering the air conditioner through the second channel.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general inventive concept are also achieved by providing an air conditioner having a main airflow circulating therethrough, the air conditioner comprising at least one partition disposed at an outlet through which the main airflow is discharged outside the air conditioner to prevent an eddy from entering the air conditioner through the outlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the air conditioner of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a partition installed at an outlet of the air conditioner of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the air conditioner of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a variation in a discharged air flow rate in relation to a variation in a rotational frequency for a conventional air conditioner and the air conditioner of FIG.1;

FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a variation in a noise level in relation to a variation in a discharged air flow rate for the conventional air conditioner and the air conditioner of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a plurality of partitions installed at an outlet of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a plurality of slope partitions installed at an outlet of an air conditioner according to yet another embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept by referring to the figures.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept comprises a main body 10 having an upper case 11 provided with an upper surface and side surfaces integrally formed, a lower plate 12, a front panel 13 having a control panel 13 a, and a rear panel (not shown). One portion of the main body 10 having the front panel 13 is disposed in an indoor space of a structure (e.g., a room), and the other portion of the main body 10 having the rear panel is disposed in an outdoor space of the structure.

The inside of the main body 10 is divided into an indoor chamber and an outdoor chamber by a diaphragm 14 installed at a center of the lower plate 12.

Outdoor air inlets 16 through which outdoor air is inhaled into the outdoor chamber are formed through the upper surface and the side surfaces of the upper case 11 of the outdoor chamber, and an outdoor air outlet (not shown) through which the outdoor air is discharged is formed through the rear panel. The outdoor air is inhaled into and discharged from the outdoor chamber through the outdoor air inlets 16 and the outdoor air outlet (not shown) so that a condenser 17 can exchange heat with the outdoor air.

The condenser 17 to exchange heat with the outdoor air and an air blast fan 18 to circulate the outdoor air are installed in the outdoor chamber of the main body 10, and a motor 19 to drive the air blast fan 18 and a compressor 20 to compress a circulating refrigerant 19 into a high-temperature and high-pressure state are installed behind the diaphragm 14 (as seen from inside towards outside of the structure).

An indoor air inlet 21 through which indoor air is inhaled into the indoor chamber and an indoor air outlet 22 through which the indoor air is discharged are formed in the front panel 13 of the indoor chamber, and blades 22a to guide the discharged indoor air in a direction are installed in the indoor air outlet 22.

An evaporator 23 to exchange heat with the indoor air to cool the indoor air is installed behind the indoor air inlet 21 of the front panel 13, and a centrifugal air blast fan 24 to inhale the indoor air is installed behind the evaporator 23. Ducts 25 and 26 that form channels to guide the indoor air inhaled through the evaporator 23 to the indoor air outlet 22 are installed around and above the air blast fan 24.

A separation plate 28 that separates a suction channel 27 a to inhale indoor air through the indoor air inlet 21 and a discharge channel 27 b to discharge the indoor air through the indoor air outlet 22 from each other is installed on the evaporator 23.

When the air conditioner is operated, the centrifugal air blast fan 24 is rotated, thereby centripetally inhaling indoor air and then centrifugally discharging the indoor air due to a rotary force.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, when the air blast fan 24 is rotated in a clockwise direction (as seen from inside the structure), a force in a direction of an X-axis is applied to the indoor air discharged from the air blast fan 24 by the rotation of the air blast fan 24. Simultaneously, a force in a direction of a Y-axis is applied to the indoor air discharged from the air blast fan 24 by the diaphragm 14 forming a channel to guide the indoor air discharged from the air blast fan 24 towards the indoor air outlet 22 and the ducts 25 and 26. Further, a force in a direction of a Z-axis is applied to the indoor air discharged from the air blast fan 24 by the rotation of the air blast fan 24. The above three forces add into one force, thereby causing the indoor air, discharged from the air blast fan 24 and directed to the indoor air outlet 22, to move in a direction of a diagonal line inside an angle (θ) formed by the X-axis and the Y-axis. Thus, a high pressure is generated in the direction of the diagonal line.

Due to characteristics of the centrifugal air blast fan 24, which centripetally inhales indoor air and centrifugally blows the indoor air, the indoor air is not discharged from a front portion A of the air blast fan 24 having a size corresponding to ⅓ of the total size of the air blast fan 24. Thereby, the pressure of the indoor air at the front portion A of the air blast fan 14 is relatively low.

Accordingly, a part of the indoor air discharged from the air blast fan 24 and directed to the indoor air outlet 22 is bent towards the front portion A of the air blast fan 24 having the low pressure, thereby generating a large three-dimensional eddy (that is, an air current moving in a direction other than to the discharged indoor air flow).

In order to avoid generation of the large three-dimensional eddy, a partition 30 is installed in the direction of the Y-axis on the separation plate 28 that separates the suction channel 27 a and the discharge channel 27 b. The partition 30 prevents the indoor air having a high pressure discharged from the air blast fan 24 from moving towards the front portion A of the air blast fan 24, thus preventing generation of the three-dimensional eddy.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, an extended end of the partition 30 is located in the area of the air blast fan 24.

Further, in order to minimize the influence of a movement of the indoor air discharged from the air blast fan 24 and directed to the indoor air outlet 22, a height (H) of the partition 30 is ¼ to ⅓ of a height (H′) of the indoor air outlet 22.

FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a variation of a discharged air flow rate (measured in cubic meter per minute, that is, CMM) in relation to a variation of a rotational frequency (measured in revolutions per minute, that is, rpm) in the air conditioner according to the present embodiment and a conventional air conditioner. In other words, FIG. 5 illustrates measurements performed to correlate the discharged air flow rate and the rotational frequency for the conventional air conditioner and the air conditioner according to the present embodiment. The air conditioner according to the present embodiment and having a partition has a blowing capacity (i.e., the discharged air flow rate) approximately 5% larger than that of the conventional air conditioner at the same rotational frequency.

FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a variation of a noise level (measured in decibels dB) in relation to a variation of a discharged air flow rate (measured in CMM) in the air conditioner according to the present embodiment and the conventional air conditioner. That is, FIG. 6 illustrates measurements performed to correlate the noise level and the rotational frequency for the conventional air conditioner and the air conditioner according to the present embodiment. The air conditioner having the partition according to the present embodiment has a noise level of approximately 1 dB lower than that of the conventional air conditioner at the same discharged air flow rate.

As illustrated by the above described measurements, the partition 30, which is biasedly installed at a right side in the indoor air outlet 22 (as seen from inside the structure), and reduces an amount of an eddy generated by a circulation of the discharged indoor air towards the portion (A) having a relatively low pressure or prevents generation of the eddy, thereby preventing an air flow loss of the indoor air discharged through the indoor air outlet 22, improving the blowing capacity of the air blast fan 24, and reducing an eddy energy to lower noise level.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate air conditioners according to alternative embodiments of the present general inventive concept.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, a plurality of partitions 30′ are formed on the separation plate 28. The partitions 30′, which are formed on the separation plate 28, reduce generation of an eddy in stages.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, a plurality of partitions 30″ are formed on the separation plate 28 such that the partitions 30″ are parallel with the direction of the indoor air discharged from the air blast fan 24.

The above partitions 30″ minimize a disturbance of a movement of the indoor air towards the indoor air outlet 22.

According to the above description, the present general inventive concept provides various embodiments of an air conditioner, in which at least one partition is installed on a separation plate that separates a suction channel and a discharge channel from each other to reduce an amount of a large three-dimensional eddy generated at an outlet or to prevent generation of the large three-dimensional eddy, thereby increasing a flow rate of the air discharged through the outlet.

Further, the air conditioner according to embodiments of the present general inventive concept reduces a noise level in the outlet as less noise is generated by the large three-dimensional eddy.

Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. An air conditioner, comprising: an indoor air inlet and an indoor air outlet formed in a main body; an air blast fan to inhale indoor air through the indoor air inlet and to discharge the indoor air through the indoor air outlet; and at least one partition to reduce an amount of an eddy generated in the indoor air outlet or to prevent generation of the eddy.
 2. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one partition is installed on a separation plate that separates from each other a suction channel to inhale the indoor air therethrough and a discharge channel to discharge the indoor air therethrough.
 3. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 2, wherein a height of the at least one partition is ¼ to ⅓ of a height of the indoor air outlet.
 4. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 3, wherein the at least one partition is located in an area of the air blast fan.
 5. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 2, wherein a plurality of partitions are disposed in a longitudinal direction of the separation plate.
 6. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 2, wherein a plurality of partitions are disposed in parallel with a direction of the air discharged from the air blast fan.
 7. An air conditioner, comprising: an inlet and an outlet formed on a main body; an air blast fan to inhale air through the inlet and to discharge the air through the outlet; a separation plate that separates from each other a suction channel to inhale the air and a discharge channel to discharge the air; and an eddy preventing device installed on the separation plate to prevent generation of an eddy in the outlet.
 8. An air conditioner, comprising: a fan to generate a main air flow entering the air conditioner through a first channel and being discharged through a second channel therein; and at least one partition disposed at an exit of the second channel to prevent an eddy from entering the air conditioner through the second channel.
 9. The air conditioner of claim 8, wherein the at least one partition is disposed substantially perpendicular on the fan.
 10. The air conditioner of claim 8, further comprising: a plurality of partitions each partition being disposed substantially perpendicular on the fan.
 11. The air conditioner of claim 8, further comprising: a plurality of partitions disposed in a direction of the main flow at the exit of the second channel.
 12. The air conditioner of claim 8, further comprising: a separation plate disposed between the first channel and the second channel, and the at least one partition is formed on the separation plate.
 13. The air conditioner of claim 12, further comprising: a plurality of partitions formed on the separation plate disposed substantially perpendicular on the fan.
 14. The air conditioner of claim 12, further comprising: a plurality of partitions formed on the separation plate disposed in a direction of the main flow at the exit of the second channel.
 15. The air conditioner of claim 8, further comprising: a main body to enclose the fan, the first channel and the second channel, the main body including an air inlet to allow air to enter therein, and an air outlet to allow the air to be discharged therefrom.
 16. An air conditioner having a main airflow circulating therethrough, the air conditioner comprising: at least one partition disposed at an outlet through which the main airflow is discharged outside the air conditioner to prevent an eddy from entering the air conditioner through the outlet. 